Christian Dior has suspended its star British fashion designer John Galliano after he was arrested for an alleged assault and making antisemitic remarks after a late-night drinking session.

Galliano was escorted home by French police late on Thursday after what police said was a drinking session that ended with him hurling insults at a couple.

The chief executive of Dior, Sidney Toledano, said Galliano had been removed from his post. "Dior affirms with the utmost conviction its policy of zero tolerance towards any antisemitic or racist words or behaviour. Pending the results of the inquiry Christian Dior has suspended John Galliano from his responsibilities."

The flamboyant designer was arrested in the Marais district after allegedly verbally accosting a couple sitting on a cafe terrace.

Galliano had been drinking at a bar beforehand. He was arrested and taken to a police station, where a sobriety test showed him to be just over the legal limit.

Police took him to his home without filing any charges. He was released on the recommendation of the state prosecutor.

One police source told Reuters the outburst had been prompted by stress before the upcoming Paris fashion week at which Dior's show is always in the spotlight.

Galliano, 50, took the creative reins of Dior in 1996. He has been based in Paris for 20 years and is a regular face in the Marais district, where he has often been seen driving an old-fashioned yellow taxi.

The area is the historic centre of the Jewish community in Paris and was heavily targeted in the deportation roundups of the Nazi occupation. In recent years its narrow streets have been taken over by fashionable shops and bars.

Wow!!! After reading the thread title quips starting popping in my head but after reading the article that went away given the nature of the subject matter. I definitely believe in due process and my beloved Galliano should get it but I respect the folks at Dior for taking the matter seriously and taking such a strong and swift action, especially at this time and assuming that they had a sound basis, and showing that certain behaviors are not tolerated.

of all the offensive things he's done at dior....it finally took something like that to actually suspend him. wow. and he's a jerk,btw. he's always been an ego maniac who thinks everyone should bow to him.

John Galliano has been preparing for Paris Fashion Week
Fashion house Dior has suspended its British creative director John Galliano over claims he racially abused a couple in a Paris restaurant.

Police briefly detained Mr Galliano on Thursday night after the couple accused him of making anti-Semitic remarks. He also allegedly traded slaps with them.

A lawyer for the 50-year-old designer said he denied the allegations.

Dior said it had "zero tolerance towards any anti-Semitic or racist words or behaviour".

The firm's chief executive Sidney Toledano said in a statement: "Pending the results of the inquiry, Christian Dior has suspended John Galliano from his responsibilities."

Mr Galliano took over the creative helm at the company in 1996.

He has been awarded the title of British Fashion Designer of the Year on four occasions.

'Drinking heavily'
Making anti-Semitic remarks is punishable in France by up to six months in prison.

"For the moment we don't know what led him to address the couple," an unnamed police source told AFP.

"We don't yet know if they knew each other or not."

Police said the designer had drunk the equivalent of up to two bottles of wine.

"We don't know the precise nature of the incident but Mr Galliano was detained after a couple made a complaint last night," a Paris police spokesman said.

"The level of alcohol in his blood was tested and he was then released. He had been drinking quite heavily."

Mr Galliano's lawyer, Stephane Zerbib, told AFP that the designer "formally denies the accusations of anti-Semitism made against him".

Mr Zerbib said his client would take legal action against those making such accusations.

Thursday night's incident is believed to have occurred on a cafe terrace in the Marais district, which has historic associations with the Jewish community and with the gay community in more recent years.

A "wall of names" memorial was recently installed in the quarter to commemorate the 76,000 Jews deported from France during World War II.